Packing machine



1930. c. VALDES Y VALDES 1,785,324

PACKING MACHINE 4 Sheecs-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1928 (jesarzealzdra we:

Dec. 23, 1930. c. VALDES Y VALDES 1,735,824

PACKING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 PACKING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1928 C. L. VALDES Y VALDES Dec. 23, 1930.

1930. c. L. VALDES Y VALDES 1,785,324

PACKING MACHINE Filed March s, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 tion incorporated therein.

Patented Dec. 23, 1930 .GESAR LEANDRO VALDES v'vALn'ns, or HABANA, CUBA rncxrns MACHINE Application filed Marcus, 1928. Serial No. 258,988.

1 This, invention'is directed generally to an lIl'lPI'OVQIIlQIlt, in clgare'tte packaging machines andpartlcularly to a detail of such machine involving the feeding of the loose Eicigarettes from a container or hopper and the compressing OfSHClLCIgZLTQt LGS into uniformly' sized arrangement to insure'an accuratev and proper cigarette mass to be presented to the wrapper, folding, and other succeeding "1Q elements of the packaging machine.

V The invention has for its principal, object the provision "of means into which the cigarettes be more or less loosely intro- M duced from a hopper through a reciprocating '1 feeder, and in which means the cigarettes arefinally' arranged andf'compressed into an 7 accurately and proper sized package form for delivery to the subsequently operating mechanism of the packaging machine.

' The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: V Figure l is aview in elevation of a conventional type of cigarette packaging machine with'the improvements of this inven- Figure 2 is a plan View of the same.

, Figure 3 is'an enlarged view in rear elevation of the compressing mechanism of this invention.

Figure 41 is a plan view of the same, the

compressing'mechanism being shown in norimalposition.

Figure 5 is a similar view withthe com pressing mechanism shown in operativeposition'. i

- Figure 6 is a plan view. showing the table ofthe compressin mechanism operated to permit bodily movement of the'compressing mechanism while avoiding interference with the plunger.

Figure 7 Figure 3. V

. Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 7 with the compressing mechanism in its lowered is a section on line 7 of -4 positiom' that is, in a position to permit operation of the ejecting plunger.

Figure 9'is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 4.

g r jis a'section on. line 10-10 of 5 Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the cigarettes prior to their introduction into the compressing mechanism.

Figure 12 is a similar view of the cigarettes following their introduction into the compressing mechanism.

Figure 13 is a similar View of the cigarettes followingthe operation of the compressing mechanism. i

The present invention is directed primarily to means for compressing the cigarettes following'theirdelivery from a hopper into a proper form or mass to be enclosed in a package or wrapper. The machine here illustrated in its entirety in Figures land 2 is shown primarily for the purpose of indicating the relative positions of the various essential elements of such a machine, it being understood that the parts of the wrapping or packaging machine proper which operate upon the compressed block or mass of cigarettes after the compressive action of the details fo rinin the subject-matter of this ii. ent-ion are substantially identical with the parts shown in my co-pending application filed Septemberit, 1927; Serial No. 193,170,

and as such details form no part of the present invention, no further specific description of the construction or operation of such parts is deemed necessary herein.

For the purpose of the present invention, the machine may be said to include a bed plate 1 supported on legs 2 on which is mounted a hopper 3 in the upper end of which the cigarettes are placed. The lower end of the hopper, which is substantially rectangular asat 4, is provided with a plurality of cells 5 into which the cigarettes group themselves in superimposed rows, so that at the lower end of the hopper the cigarettes are arranged in superimposed relation in transverse rows of the required number, say seven cigarettes, and disposed directly transverse the hopper. v

The feeder 7 has spaced fingers 8 which, in the operation of the feeder, move through the cells of the hopper and push two rows of cigarettes through and beyond the hopper into the compression box to be later referred to, If desired andas preferred, a gate-like member 6 may be provided at the feeder ent t the block 9rbelow the feeder and operates entrance side of the hopper to prevent the return movement of the feeder from moving, v the cigarettes outwardly.

The feeder is mounted upon a block 9 movable on guideways 10 supported above the bed plate by pedestals 11 the block being reciprocated by an arm 12 connected to the block by a link 13 and pivotally conneceted' at its lower end at 14 to, a cross bar 15 joining the legs. The: arm 12 .is longitudinally slotted at 16 to receive a pin- 17 projecting the feeder 7 isreciprocated relative. to the hopper. n

An ejecting plunger 19 is also securedto tirely below the hopper, the operative end of the ejecting plunger having a cross bar or head 20 of a width'and depth corresponding to the sectional area of the block or mass of cigarettes as finally compressed,

The compressing mechanism proper ar ranged immediately beyond the hopper in the direction of movement of the feeder includes when the slide 39 is in inoperative position,

a compression box 21 carried by rods 22 slid-'v ably mountedin sleeve-like bosses 23 secured to the bed plate 1, whereby the box is permitted' a vertical reciprocating movement; This box has a hollow compression space'24 opening through-the box in the longitudinal plane. of the machine and defined byside walls 25, the" bottom of the box having a laterallhollow 7 depending portion 26 to permitmovement of the plunger in a manner to be later described. This depending portion 26 of the box is connected through the mediumof a rod27 tosuitable mechanism, not necessary to illustrate or describe, by which the bonds given the necessary verticalreciprocating,movement, as will be entirely obvious.

divided into a, fixed section 28 integral with I the box'eand a movable section 29 connected by a bar 30 and a link 31 toa lever '32 operated by appropriate: parts of thepower mechanismof the machine to cause theinovable section toapproach and Trecede from the fixed section of the'fio-or at proper intervals.

hold the plate -in: divergent relation to the proximatewall of thelboxin thedireotion of cigarette'ifeed:whenfthe box is% free of-cigarettes. The plateis' provided,with a -.limit pi-n 36 adaptedto engagethe-proxi-mate*wall 25; of-ithe ;:boX-.-'under;: that movement of the plate tending to compressive action on the cigarettes, the limitpin serving to position the plate 33 in parallelism with the proximate wall of the box25; I j

The opposite compression member is in the formofa plate 37 corresponding to the plate 33 and pivotally connected at 38 to a slide 39 which extends longitudinally of the compression space 24 in parallelism to the wall 25 of the box opposite that to whichgplate 33 is con nected, The slidei39ais designed for opera tion in the compression space'24, being reciprecated transversely of said space. For this purpose theslide 39 is connected to or formed integral with a bar-39,provided at its termin alwith a pi-n 40 seating in a slot 41 in an upright 42 mountedona plate43transversely slidable ina pedestal 44 fixed to the bed plate, 1. l The plate 43 is" operated through the nedium of an arm'45 actuated by an appropirate driving part ofthe ,meeha n'ism. By this mounting, the compression as indicated in Figure'4, engages the end of thebar '30connected to thelmov'able bottom section 29 to thereby inclinetheiplate' 37 relative to theslide. Thus, the 'platesv33 and 37 normally converge in thedirectionof'feed of trance of the cigarettes; V

The compressionplates 33, and 37 act to the cigarettes/and their entrant ends47 may, I 7

if desired, be roundedto facilitate theven-" Q f compress the contained cigarettes on; the sides of the mass, and'while the bottom is confined by the floor sections 28r and 29, it isappjarent' that means .mustb provided for similarly confining the upper surface of themass or block of cigarettes. The compression boxis provided with a cover plate 48 removablysecured by meanslindicatedat 49 ,one of' 'which may be in the formof aswinging-latch mem her for more conveniently removing the plate. This cover plate overlyingtlle compression space is formedwith a transverse slot 50 in which is mounted a roller 51 rotating freely on a shaft 52 carried by brackets'53 arranged on the cover plate. e p v This roller51 proj ects below the lowersurface of the cover plate so thaton introduction of the cigarettes, they will be guided by; this rollerin so farasthfe upper surface of the mass is concerned. Arms 54 are pivotally supported on uprights 55frising from the bracket 53, whicharms project laterally of the compression box and carry-at their forward ends a freely rotatable [compression roller 56which operates through a slot 57 in the cover plate, the arms 54 above the-roller being provided with a bridge rod: 58.: V

3 With the parts arranged as describedaand;

with.thecompression box in its uppermost or raised position, the feeder 7'advances through the cells in the portion 4 of the hopper,

' pushes forward the requisite number of cigare .ettes and introducesthem into the compression space 24. It isto be understood that the arrangement is suchthat the feederpushes forward the cigarettes in two layers, withan'ap I pro'priate-number in each! layer, and delivers them in this condition into the-compression space. During this movement of the feeder, the plunger 19 alsoadvan'ces but passes into the open space of the portion 26 of the com- I pression box. After the introduction of the cigarettes by the feeder, the feeder and plungerreturn to normal position andithe compres-' sion box starts to move downwardly.

. .During this downward movement,thelever is operated, the upright 42 advancedand the slide 39 moved toward the center of the compression space. This causes the compression plates 33and 37 to compress the cigarettes in-' feeder and plunger causes the plunger to first engage the formed cigarettes and advance them from the compression space into a wrapper delivered through a chute 59,-which wrap- ;per, as the advance continues, is folded .into

box form about the cigarette mass, as -described'in detail in theaforementioned application. As the plunger ejects the formed cigarettes from the compression space, the feeder is of course advancing to push forward a second mass of cigarettes for delivery to the compression space. Therefore, immediately following the delivery of the cigarettes from the compression space, the compression box'starts to move upwardly to a position to receive the advancing feeder. 1 As the plunger is in the position occupied by the cigarettes in thecompression space and as the compression box is rising, means must be provided to permit the box to avoidengagement with the plunger. This is accomplished through the then operation of the lever 32'which, through the bar '30, moves the movable section 29 0f the floor of the compression box, so that the free edge of said movable floor section 29 is adjusted to a position sufficiently far from the free edge of the fixed floor section 28 as to provide an opening through which the bar 19 of the plunger may pass as the box rises. Asthe box moves to its upper limit or cigarette receiving position, theplunger has reached the opening in the depressed portion 26 of the box and the movable section of the floor is moved to closed position to receive the cigarettes.

The cigarettes as delivered by the feeder the box while the are in the shape illustrated in Figure 11, that is, relatively spaced'onejrom the other, and as they move in between the compression plates, when the latter are in the normal position as shown in Figure 4, they are brought T closer togetherat their forward or advanced ends, as shown in Figure 12; the compact relation of the cigarettes after compression being indicated in Figure 13.

\Vhat I claim to be new is: p v

1. A cigarette compression means for use in connection with clgarette packaging ma- "chines, comprising a compression-box mounted for vertical movement, feeding means for introducing cigarettes into the compression box when said box is at the upper limit of movement, a plunger for ejecting the compressed cigarettes from the box when the box is at its downwardlimit of movement,

compression plates operating within the box 7 to engage the sides of the cigarette mass, means operative during the downward movement of the box to actuate the compresslon plates relative to each other, and means operative during the upward movement of the box to provide an opening for the passage of the plunger to permit upward movement of plunger is in the advanced position. v

2. A cigarette compression means for use in connection with a cigarette packaging machine, comprising a compression box mount- 'ed for vertical movement, said box being formed with" a compression space opening through the box in the line of cigarette feed,

acompression plate mounted adjacent one side of the compression space and normally inclined in the direction of cigarette feed, a second compression plate mounted in said compression space, a slide carrying said second compression plate, and means for operating the slide to move the second compression plate relative to the first mentioned compression plate to compress the cigarettes in said compression space.

iii)

3. A cigarette compression means for use in connection with a cigarette packaging machine, comprising a compresslon box mounted for vertical movement, said box being formed with a compression space opening Y through the box in the line of cigarette feed, a compression plate mounted adjacentone side of the compression space and normally inclined in the direction of cigarette feed, a second compression plate mounted in said compression space, a slide carrying said second compression plate, means for operating the slide to move the second compression plate relative to the first mentioned compression plate to compress the cigarettes in said compression space, a plunger operating through the compression space when the compression box is at its lowest point of movement, a floor for the compression space including a movable section, and ,means to ]()1I1$3(l to the box and which is IllitlntalIlGCllIl illl-lllClllleCl POSllJlOIl' by. the elastic actlon of a spring while the cigarettes are introduced in operatethe movable floorseotion during the upward movement of thecompression box to permit the relative, passage of the plunger between the'separated floor sections as the mpression box rlses. i I

= a. Mechanism to form a package of ciga. rettes,wh1ch CODIPIISBS, a lOOXpXDVldBClWltll a movement of ascent and descent and main tamed against lateral movement by means of adequate guides, a 'COHlPI'QSSlOIl member thebox, another compression member also arranged, in an inclined positions and joined to a movable member, which moves forward andbackward in theinterior of the box, ap-

proaching itselfto the compression member first mentioned during the movement of descent of the box to-compress between both the cigarettes which have been introduced in the box in the shape of a fan andto form ,with. them arr-adequate package for the wrapping. 7 a a V 5. A mechanism-to form a package of cigarettes, which comprises a box provided with a movement of ascent and descent and maintained against a lateral movement by adequate guides, receiving the cigarettes in the movement of ascent and compressing them on the descent, a compression member joinedto OHQ'SIClQ Of the box, a compression member jointed to aan-ovable :member which. moves forward and backward nthe interior of the box, said movable member being provided I with a stem, a roller in the free end of said stem, which is lodged in the elongated'groove;

provided in one piece, projecting from a plate which moves upon the-adequate guides in suchamanner that the forward advance introduced in the shape ofa fan in the box and to form with them an adequate package for the Wrapping.

6. "A mechanism to form a package with a predetermined number of cigarettes, which comprises a box provided with the movements ofascentand descent and maintained against a lateral movement by means of adequate guides, sald box being pro-videdwith a bottom divided into sections, one fixed and which form integral parts of the box and the other which moves upon adequate rollers separating itself, approaching itselftothe'fixed I j section and'leaving between both a groove to permit thepassingacross it of the plunger which pushes forward thepackage of cigarettes-and to extract it from; the box. while this one is in its lowest position, inHsuch-a manner that the box may carry out its novementof ascent to receive arnew supply of cigarettes without awaiting-the backward movement of the plunger. 7

adequate form to'bewrapped, which comprises a box provided'with compression members, a bottom divided intotwo seotions,a top, grooves along theside of said topand next to its rearward and'forward edges, in

which are lodged cylinders whose peripheries protrude partially from'th'e inner face of the top and which are raised by the contactwith the cigarettes to enable the cigarettes of a 7 diameter greater than the averageto beeas- I 7. In machines to pack cigarettes, a mech- 7 'anlsm to, compress them and give them an i'ly introduced in the box without damaging them andwhich serveto prevent the cigar'ettes from falling toward'the sideson being pushed by the compression member I and thereby produce an imperfect package inadequate to be wrapped. i 8. A mechanism to form a package with a predetermined number of cigarettes, 'constituted by a. box which presents a bottom divided in two sections, one fixed and the other movable,"means to drive the section of the movable bottom, a pair, of compression; memhere," one fixed and-theother one movable,

means to drive the movable compression member, a removable topprovided wlth a groove close to its forwardedg'e, a cylinder lodged-in said groove whose periphery protruoles in-partfrom the interior surface -of the top, another groove close to its rear edge in which is lodged a cylinder whose periphery alsoiprotrudes partially from the inner face of said top, the cylinder being mounted upon a pair ofoscillatingarms sothat it may be ,raisjed by the cigarettes upon cigarettes of larger diameter than the average being introduced into the box. r

9. :Infla machine of the class. described, a support, plates mounted." tllQIGOllalIl' spaced Iopposed relation to, each other and between which articles to beipacked are to be inserted in a bunch, means guiding, the movement of said plates extending --rearwardly thereof, andmeans yieldingly urging said first-mentioned means to cause the platesto normally assume positions in a relatively diverging "planes, said first mentioned means being re-.

sponsive to the insertion of a bunch of articles between themore widely spaced sides of the plates and subsequent movement therebetween to move'the plates into positions substantially parallel to each other, whereby they will elfectvoompression of the articles to compact, mutually contacting form.

In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature. 7

. CESAR LEANDRovALm'zs vALDEs'. -1 

